Wikipedia

Draft:Hydrox Corporation


Hydrox
Hydrox Corporation
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryFood processing
Founded1888; 136 years ago (1888) in Chicago, U.S.
Founders
  • Chauncey B. Blair
  • Consumers Company
Defunct1988 (1988)
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
,
United States
Area served
United States
ProductsIce cream; soft drinks

Hydrox Corporation, formerly known as Hydrox Co.,[1] was an American food company based in Chicago. Founded on 1888 by the Consumers Company and Chauncey B. Blair, it manufactured both ice cream and soft drinks.

History

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Early history

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A Hydrox ad from 1917–18

Hydrox was founded on 1888,[2][3][4] by the Consumers Company[5] and Chauncey B. Blair.[6] It first sold drinks such as root beer and ginger ale, but after making ice cream, making the latter its main product.[4] In 1917, Thomas McInnerney split the company from the Consumers Company.[7] Heavy post-war advertising and several slogans during 1917–1918 led to the rise of Hydrox.[8] By 1920, Hydrox was the most popular ice cream brand in Chicago.[9] Hydrox bought the Collins Bros. and Thompson-Reid ice cream companies in 1921.[10]

Absortion into National Dairy Products and beyond

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Hydrox trucks in 1922

Around 1922, Hydrox absorbed the New York-based Shevers Company, a business which was growing.[11] In December 26, 1922, Hydrox's ice cream division was sold to the National Dairy Products Corporation.[12] Hydrox had "the finest ice manufacturing plant" according to the Sunday Tribune in 1923.[13] By the mid-1920s, it had four factories, all located across Chicago.[14] And in the late 1920s Hydrox had started a free ice cream campaign, with over 7,000 dishes given around April 1929.[15] It was also known for giant trucks with huge lettering "Hydrox Ice Cream".[16] By December 31, 1942, Hydrox had expanded to companies to Missouri and New York.[17]

Oddly, on some occassions, Hydrox was advertised as "Graf's Hydrox", despite not being owned by Graf's, even having no relation.[18]

Hydrox Soda, however, was distributed by E. Minkowski and Kenosha Liquor Co around the 1940s.[19]

Shutdown

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In 1986, Hydrox Soda had published its last known ads.[20][21] The following year, 1987, Hydrox Ice Cream also had its own final advertisements.[22] Around 1988, their headquarters, which was located on 415 E 24th Street was demolished.[23] The building was then known to have been used by an auto body firm around 1988.[24]

Products

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Hydrox consisted of ice cream and soda and had many flavors. It started in the markets in 1892 with distilled water.[25] Initial products included sarsaparilla, birch beer, lemon soda, root beer, and ginger ale.[26] Other products within also included Sparkling Hydrox, Hydrolaris and Hydrox Lithia.[27] However, it introduced ice cream in 1910,[25] which became highly successful. Its ice cream was reported made from the Guernsey cattle of the famous Glenwood family.[28] Hydrox Swizz, however, from the 1970s, appears to be at least inspired by Mountain Dew.[29]

Logo history

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  •  
    1890's–early 1900's
  •  
    early 1900's–mid 1910's
  •  
    mid 1910's–1988

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Ice Cream Review. Miller Publishing Company. 1926.
  2. ^ Moody's Manual of Railroads and Corporation Securities. Moody Manual Company. 1924.
  3. ^ Forest Leaves. Hall-Heileman Company. 1922.
  4. ^ a b The Annalist: A Magazine of Finance, Commerce and Economics. New York Times Company. 1923.
  5. ^ "About 3". The City Beyond the White City. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Judicious Advertising and Advertising Experience. Lord and Thomas Publishing House. 1918.
  7. ^ Hadden, Briton; Luce, Henry Robinson (1931). Time. Time Incorporated. p. 47.
  8. ^ Judicious Advertising and Advertising Experience. Lord and Thomas Publishing House. 1918. pp. 37–40.
  9. ^ "Winnetka Historical Society Gazette" (PDF). p. 5.
  10. ^ Ice Cream Trade Journal. Cutler-Williams Company. 1915. p. 30.
  11. ^ The Soda Fountain. D. O. Haynes. 1923. p. 70.
  12. ^ Commission, United States Federal Trade (1935). Report of the Federal Trade Commission on the Sale and Distribution of Milk and Milk Products. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  13. ^ The Sunday Tribune. The Sunday Tribune.
  14. ^ Spurr, Henry Clifford; Nichols, Ellsworth (1924). Public Utilities Reports. Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Company. p. 344.
  15. ^ Ice Cream Review. Miller Publishing Company. 1928. pp. 48–49.
  16. ^ Records and Briefs of the United States Supreme Court. 1932.
  17. ^ Survey of American Listed Corporations: Registrants and Subsidiaries. Securities and Exchange Commission. 1942. p. 149.
  18. ^ "Kenosha News from Kenosha, Wisconsin". Newspapers.com. June 8, 1938. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  19. ^ "Kenosha News". Kenosha, Wisconsin. May 2, 1946. p. 21.
  20. ^ "Chicago Tribune". Chicago, Illinois. March 2, 1986. p. 537.
  21. ^ "Journal Gazette". Mattoon, Illinois. February 1, 1986. p. 22.
  22. ^ "The Reporter Dispatch". White Plains, New York. January 4, 1987. p. 57.
  23. ^ "Resource details | The Art Institute of Chicago". archive.artic.edu. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  24. ^ "Chicago Tribune". Chicago, Illinois. March 16, 1988. p. 39.
  25. ^ a b Office, United States Patent (1912). Decisions of the Commissioner of Patents and of the United States Courts in Patent and Trade-mark and Copyright Cases. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  26. ^ The Clinical Review. Clinical Review Publishing Company. 1898.
  27. ^ The Chicago Blue Book of Selected Names of Chicago and Suburban Towns ... Chicago Directory Company. 1898. p. 808.
  28. ^ Plumbe, George Edward; Langland, James; Pike, Claude Othello (1911). The Chicago Daily News Almanac and Year Book for ... Chicago Daily News Company.
  29. ^ "HYDROX-Citrus soda-355mL-United States". canmuseum.com. Retrieved June 21, 2024.


Category:1888 establishments in Illinois Category:American drink brands Category:Soft drinks Category:Ice cream brands Category:Products introduced in 1888 Category:Food and drink companies based in Chicago

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